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Both associations have chipped in to tell the city what they think of the city leaders in big bold letters on a billboard on 15th Street near Midwest Boulevard.

“This sign says ‘The mayor and city manager do not care about public safety,’” said Bray.

The city blames a drop of sales tax funds coming in to help pay for additional salaries. There are several open positions that are on hold until the money is available.

Bray said they’d like to see the city introduce a public safety sales tax to maintain those departments.

The signs will stay up for the time being.

The city released the following statement:

"By now some of you have seen the billboard on S.E. 15th Street and Ocama that accuses Mayor Jay Dee Collins, a retired 30-year veteran of the Midwest City Police Department, and City Manager Guy Henson of not caring about public safety. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is currently an ongoing dispute with the Fire Union over financial issues that affect staffing levels in the Fire Department. Presently, spending is out-pacing revenue in the Fire Department and will continue to do so if changes are not made.

Public safety is and has historically been a priority of City management and elected officials. Those officials must consider all of the needs of the community and balance that with available resources. During the 2014-15 fiscal year, after voter approved sales tax earmarked for other purposes was taken out, the Police and Fire Departments received 66% of the sales tax revenue received by the City. Out of $25,194,227 collected in sales tax in last fiscal year, those two departments received $16,644,376.Examples of public safety’s priority within the City are: 1) that the City’s Insurance Service Office rating is 1, the highest level of fire protection in the country and the only community in Oklahoma to have achieved this; 2) the Police Department’s accreditation by the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation and Professional Standards Program; and, just this week, the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Planning Association granting Midwest City an award for a public safety initiative.

These are just three examples of the many programs that demonstrate commitment to the overall public safety in the City.

The City Council and staff work hard to provide the very best municipal services for Midwest City, whether it’s Police, Fire, Parks and Recreation, Neighborhood Services, Water, or Sewer. The needs of the entire community must be met, not just those of one or two City departments."